Saturday, November 29, 2008

Another Update!

Wow!!! These bundles have been popular!
As of right now these bundles have sold out:

All in the Family Bundle
Mission Embossable Bundle
Santa's Stocking Stuffer Bundle
Curvy Label Bundle

You can still buy all of the items in the regular catalog, just not in bundles or at bundle prices.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Quick Update!

Hi All!!

Nothing to show you....we have been overwhelmed here with life...I know....everybody seems to be that way lately! lol! If I get a chance to stamp that is unrelated to my camp on Sunday...I will share, I promise!

Now, the real reason I am here.

The ALL IN THE FAMILY BUNDLE IS SOLD OUT!!!! If you are eyeing one of these bundles, don't delay. Stampin' up! has only made a certain number of each bundle to sell at this incredible discount!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!!!

Hi Stampers!

I have three cards to show you today. they are all Thanksgiving cards...and I figured if I didn't post them for you...well...they would be in the "aside pile"...lol!

The first one is just the two previous quilt cards except I used really rust for the card base and juntos, from the Spanish supplement catalog, for the quilt. I love this type of card!!!






These two cards were ones I had taught at last month's Big Shot Club. We used the pennant die to create the flaps for the card enclosure. We used the smaller ones because I wanted more of the insert to show. If you want less of the insert to show, just use the larger pennant on the die! I love using the big shot dies for things other than their intended purpose.






The leaves were cut with the leaves #2 die with chipboard. The class learned how to cut and cover chipboard in one step! Perfect edges every time!!!! i {luv} chipboard! :)






Would you like to buy your Big shot kit over a four month period? Be sure to ask me about my new Big Shot Clubs forming in January!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Holiday Extravaganza!!!

Well....the day is finally here! Today starts the Holiday Extravaganza from Stampin' up!.



Quanitites are very limited so don't selay in ordering. You can order directly through Stampin' up at my Demonstrator Business web site....click HERE. Then click the "SHOP NOW" button at teh top right hand side of my site.



CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE SALE FLYER.

I will more than likely be placing an order later today, so if you want to email me directly with your order, I will happy to add it to mine. That will probably save you shipping.

Happy Stampin!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

I should be saving this....

....but I promised that if I could get into my room...I would share it with you!

Well, since this post is so late today....it is safe to say the hubby didn't get home from work early last night! He didn't get home until 10:00pm! He had to meet with a Caterpillar ( big truck engine) repair man - can't even get into how much trouble he has had with this truck since he got it brand new a year and a half ago.....let's just say we are anxious to get the next new one, hopefully in another year or two at the longest! And when that man was done, he needed to get two new tires on the front end...with the weather they have been having out through the Laurel Highlands, that was a must! So....he got very little sleep last night....I got no stamping done....and we are both cranky! LOL!!!

I could not take it anymore....I snuck upstairs to get to work...of course the little one realized I was missing after about three minutes, so this page spread too way longer than it should have! lol! But anyway, here it is:




The bases are regal rose. The designer series paper is from the Georgia Peach collection. I will get into more detail with the individual pages.


This is the left hand side. These pictures are of my little girl painting her first picture. When I saw the watercolor books....I had to buy them for her! I had been watching out for a craft that we could do together. I love to create with my hands....and I want to share that with her. At the point of these pictures (May 2007) we didn't know how into crafts she would actually be...but let me tell you....she loves to create stuff! That makes me very happy. Creating is a great stress outlet for me and I was so glad to see that she will follow that path, I think.


The scallops along the designer series paper is old olive card stock punched with the slit punch. I wanted bigger scallops than the scallop edge punch could give me...so back to my slit punch! There are flowers stamped and scattered all over the layout. All of the flowers are from Eastern Blooms. I stamped them in pink pirouette, pretty in pink, regal rose and so saffron. I cut them all out and scattered them around. My title used the taffy alphabet. I stamped it with pretty in pink ink onto whisper white card stock. I cut each letter out with my hobby blade and cutting mat. I then adhered them down with my 2 way glue pen.


Here is a closer look at the title and some of the flowers. I used the smaller old olive button, from earth elements buttons, and so saffron buttons, from fresh favorites 2 buttons, for the flower centers. I tied some white crochet thread through the holes before adhering them with mini glue dots. They are mounted to the page at different heights. I did accent the edges of the flowers with glitter - it is hard to see that in the picture though.






Here is the other side. It holds the art piece!
She saw me putting this on the page and she demanded it back! She said..."I didn't finish painting that....Give it to me...I have to finish it!" argh!!!!
I also used the Define Your Life stamp set to stamp the "memories" stamp above the artwork. If you are a scrapper, I think this set is a must! It is wonderful for cards...but for scrapbooking...it is awesome!
I really should have written above a ruler for my journaling....I just went to it....I took no prisoners! That is why it is sooo crooked! I guess maybe I should computer journal more....but I am old school that way. I do some computer journaling, but very little. Someday, my daughter will appreciate my chicken scratch...maybe! lol! I am a stickler about my recipe cards too...they are all hand written. Maybe she will share my love for cooking too. I do love to cook and bake, but I don't do it enough to really mention...lol!!! (just ask my hubby.....)
DON'T FORGET TO CHECK BACK TOMORROW....STAMPIN' UP! IS HAVING A HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA SALE...I CAN NOT WAIT!!!!!!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Ok......Ok....

I know...i did not get a scrapping Saturday posted. We decided to take our little one to the mall for dinner and to see Santa and ride the train...twice...lol! If my hubby gets home early enough to night...i am dying to scrap...i will post it here for you if i can get to it!




BUT.....I do have something to share!!!!




Stampin' Up! has told us there will be a SALE to end all SALES beginning on Wednesday!!! (two days from now...) It is so big, they haven't even told us demonstrators what is going on.




Here is what I do know:


-the sale will run from Wednesday November 26th - December 1st.


-there will be bundles of products at Clearance prices!


-from what I understand....it will be while supplies last!




The second I know what is going on I will keep you posted...but for now...make sure the first thing you check on Wednesday morning is my DEMONSTRATOR WEB SITE. (click there to get it.) I will be placing orders for all of you or you can click on the "SHOP NOW button at the top right hand side of my personal Stampin' Up! Web Site.




WHOOOHOOOO....I can't wait to see what is going to be on sale!!!!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Scrappin' Saturday

please don't give up on me just yet.....i will do everything i can do get a spread done and posted today....it might not be until later this evening...but i will do my best. i don't want to cash in my "extra" just yet...lol! ;)

Friday, November 21, 2008

Blogger's Challenge - week 74

Hey All!!

Sorry I missed out last week on the Blogger's Challenge...I was overwhelmed with stuff, I just could not get it in....even though it would not have been hard at all...it was a color challenge: chocolate chip, baja breeze, and whisper white. Could it have been anymore for me???? I just couldn't squeeze it in....

But this week is a theme challenge. It is the theme of "giving thanks." Well.....as promised, I will go into more depth in the mechanics for yesterday's card...as well as today's. Here it is:


I am telling you....this big shot/top note die is addicting!!! I can't stop!!!




Well, I didn't take step by step pictures....but I am sure you can follow along here. First, you can not be afraid to mark your dies with sharpie markers.






Here is my top note die. You can't really see in the picture, but I too a silver sharpie marker and a ruler to the die. I laid the ruler across it at the points. I then drew a line from the die out to the edge. I did this on both sets of points. If you aren't super anal about the "quilt block seams" being pretty close to the points...you could skip this.....me....too anal! And besides...the sharpie marks WILL NOT hurt your dies. This is not the first die that has met up with my silver sharpie, and probably will not be the last...lol!






OK...next, take a 4x5 piece of card stock, I used whisper white. You aren't going to see it anyway...so just use what you have lots of. I then drew in the center line, both vertically and horizontally. I measured both edges and made a mark...then connected those dots. I wanted the meeting in the center point to be exact....an exact 90 degree angle. (can you tell I had a math major in college???? lol!) So, anyway, do that to both the front and back of that 4x5 piece of card stock.

Next.....cut out 24 one inch blocks of designer series paper. Here I used autumn vine.

Next, adhere them one at a time, starting in the center and working outward....just like laying a tile floor. hehehe! I did mine in a random pattern....but you could very well do a definite pattern too.

So when the blocks are all in place, turn your "quilt top" over on the top note die and line up your lines on the quilt with the sharpie lines on the die. Next....cut it in your Big Shot. i {luv} my big shot!!!

You're done...your quilt top is finished!!! You could add faux stitches to it...sponge it...what ever your heart desires...I liked mine just as it was....

Now after all of that....did you happen to notice the card base??? What!??!??!?! You didn't even see it???? Well....I think it looks pretty cool too, if I could toot my own horn a little bit. It is sage shadow card stock. I first swiped the base with my sage shadow ink pad and then swiped over it with my whisper white craft ink pad. Kind of like faux wood...but this is more of a white washed look. I thought it was pretty, anyway. lol!


Now another thing...if you haven't bought any of the felt ribbon from the Holiday Mini catalog....it is from the alpine originals ribbon collection....you must get it! It is so.....I don't know how to describe it....it is not near as stiff as you might think...it is soft, very nice to tie with...anyway...I just love it!!! And I wanted you to see it up close. lol!






Oh yeah....my sentiment is from Holidays and Wishes. I inked it up with sage shadow ink then went over the word "HAPPY" with my chocolate chip stampin' write marker. I then punched it out with the new wide oval punch and then adhered it with stampin' dimensionals.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

I have warned all of you......

....That I am a scrap hoarder! Ever wonder what you can do with 1 inch square blocks of designer series paper???? Do any of you out there quilt??? I know some of my club girls do...... I have dabbled in some quilting. I have never machine pieced anything together, I have hand pieced together a few quilt tops. I have hand quilted a few baby quilts, pillows, wall hangings and the such. Maybe I need to get back into it...in my free time....huh? lol!

I think I may have just found my "new thing." Making this type of card was fun, fun, fun!!! I made a bigger deal out of it than I probably would have needed to....but we will get into that tomorrow...I will give you a tutorial of what to do....ok? Today...you can just look at the candy.....


The card base is old olive. I stamped it with the twill background stamp. I absolutely love this background stamp!!! It is the best stamp, in my opinion, to give card stock a slight look of texture....luv it!!!! I then made my quilt of scraps from the Holiday treasures designer series papers. We will get into the mechanics of this tomorrow. I used a sentiment from the level 1 hostess stamp set, Best Yet. I inked it up with stampin' write markers in old olive, chocolate chip and ruby red before stamping it onto whisper white card stock. I punched it out with the designer label punch and it was a perfect fit into the label holder from the styled silver hodgepodge hardware collection.


Are you wondering how there is only one ribbon end???? I punched a hole in the "quilt" where the right hand side brad would go. I threaded the riding hood red taffeta ribbon through that hole and adhered it to the back of the quilt with sticky strip. I then took the remaining end and wrapped it around the card and then through the brad hole on the left from the bottom and secured it with a styled silver brad. a little clever??? Just a little???? I thought at the time I was really onto something...but seeing it now....maybe it wasn't so clever....LOL!!!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

What is the matter with me????

I have done it again! I have used contraband stamps!!! I am sorry.......

But a few weeks ago, my mom, my daughter and I were shopping and I spied this adorable penguin stamp. My daughter loves "pengies" and the image reminded me of the three of us playing. I had it in my cart the entire way through the store...and then decided that I didn't need it. I have tons of Stampin' Up Holiday stamps that I love. Well....my mom bought it for me and slipped it into my bag....thanks mom!!!

Sorry I didn't post at all yesterday. I was wiped out by some sickness. It was all I could do to throw something edible on a plate for my daughter. I wasn't nauseous or anything...I was just so weak that I could barely sit, let alone walk or stand. I'm not sure what that is all about...but I fell better today. I still have a very sore throat....I mean...VERY sore throat. argh!!!! I do not have time to be sick!! But anyway...I did get to make a card today. And I did use those "pengies." lol!! Everything else is Stampin' Up! though.


Isn't it adorable??? Sorry the red looks orangish...it is riding hood red...I swear! The main image was stamped onto stampin' up watercolor paper with jet black staz on ink. I always grab my aquapainters to watercolor....but I thought...throw caution to the wind...use blender pens! lol!! So that is what I did. I colored in the image with a blender pen and the following reinkers: basic grey, riding hood red, tangerine tango, old olive, brocade blue, bashful blue ( snow and shadows)and so saffron (highlight for the twinkle lights). The card base as well as the matts are basic grey. The background panel is riding hood red. I stamped it with snowburst in riding hood red ink. I will feel soooooo bad if this snowflake stamp set retires this year! the edges were then sponged with riding hood red ink. The small old olive squares were also stamped with small snowflakes in snow burst. I then sponged the edges of those with old olive ink and a sponge dauber. My sentiment is from short and sweet and was stamped with basic black ink.

I'll show you the glitter up close:

sweet, huh? I'm pleased with it. My daughter sure is pleased with it. lol!



Monday, November 17, 2008

Giftable Stamp Camp Projects

Hi Stampers!


We had the first of two giftabel stamp camps this year yeasterday. Each "camper" made three of each of the following gifts.


A Notebook portfolio with a pocket...one of my personal favorites!


















A gift card holder with the top note die















A box of chocolates....who doesn't love a box of chocolate????




A 2 year pocket calendar/planner...sorry for the glare! lol!


And, what I think was my absolute favorite, a wall hanging with sticky notes and tear off calendars.


There is another giftable Stamp Camp coming on the 30th...I can't wait!

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Scrappin' Saturday 8

It is still Saturday, right??? So this still counts! lol!!! This week has kicked my tuckus...so it felt good to get a scrappin' saturday in, that's for sure!

I'll get right to it.

This is the double page spread. The bases are more mustard. I stamped the grass stamp from Inspired by Nature. This stamp set is so versatile!! I just love it! Anyway, I stamped it with creamy caramel ink. The designer series paper here is from autumn vine.







On this side, I used the slit punch to add scallops to the chocolate layer. It is in pumpkin pie. I really love the scallop edge punch...but sometimes I want a larger scallop...know what I mean? This was one of those times...so I pulled out my slit punch! My journaling block is the Stampin' Up! exclusive die, top note. I cut it with whisper white card stock. After I journaled on it with the chocolate chip stampin' write marker....it looked too stark. So I took my creamy caramel ink and a stampin sponge and just pounced it around the edges to soften it a little. It is hard to see in the pictures, but in real life it makes a big difference. It is one of those things someone would never notice....but if you laid the two side by side...there is a definite difference.

The right hand page was fun to put together. It all sort of evolved really...while I was making the page. Not very often do things go how I have them in my head while scrap booking. I'm not sure why....when I sit down to make a card...mostly it goes exactly how I had it layed out or envisioned...but scrap booking....another story! The three pumpkin elements were so much fun!!! For each one, I cut a square of autumn vine designer series paper for the background. I wanted to pull the chocolate designer series paper from the other side, so that is how I picked the background paper. For each pumpkin I punched five ovals with the small oval punch out of pumpkin pie card stock. I stamped each oval with the small flourish from priceless before sponging all of the edges. The curlies coming out of the top of the pumpkins are cut with the big shot and the swirls scribbles sizzlet. I cut it with sage shadow card stock and pounced the sponge with creamy caramel ink to soften the color a bit. The pumpkins are mounted up on stampin' dimensionals. The title was also cut with the big shot using the go-go boots alphabet die set. I adhered it to the page with a 2 way glue pen.


Here is a closer look at those pumpkins. I think they are soooo cute!










Doing these scrappin' saturdays sure have upped my creative outlet...and I sure am enjoying it!!!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Playing with the retirees

HI stampers!



I won't have a chance to stamp anything for you today. We are off to a kindermusik class with our play group. My little one is feeling so much better today so I didn't want her to miss it! I made a card for my nephew, he turns eight at the end of the month. My niece and nephew's birthday parties are together since they are both in November. You know...I don't really have any age appropriate stamps for an eight year old. I could have used loads of love, but I used that for him last year. He is into Star Wars and Bakugan...definitely do not have the stamps for that....lol!!! So I pulled out party harty! I really wanted to use the cupcake image...but I knew I would "girl" it up too much with beads or glitter...you know I couldn't resist! lol!!! So, here is what I came up with.

Now....a lot of the products here are retired...but you could easily substitute current papers and colors for your cards! I didn't want to not have anything to show you.....

The card base is pumpkin pie. I stamped the candle from party harty across the bottom just for fun! Again...my current designer series paper is pretty girly...so I pulled out a retired pack, jersey shore. I loved the geometric prints in this pack. I cut four squares out of the prints and matted them on a piece of wild wasabi - also retired. sorry ;( I loved all of the In Colors last year...so I stocked up! Just because it is retired doesn't mean you can't use what you have, right? The main image is stamped onto whisper white. I stamped the center with pumpkin pie onto scrap paper and punched it out with my 1/2 inch circle punch and then mounted it up on stampin' dimensionals. I matted that entire panel onto brilliant blue and adhered that with stampin, dimensionals...no shocker there, huh? lol! Last, but certainly not least....the sentiment is stamped in brilliant blue. All of the stamps are from party harty - what a fun stamp set!!!


Well....off to kindermusik! My little one loves to sing and dance...i hope she can focus on the class! lol!!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Another Season of Joy

I went to this set again today. I didn't set out to make a "country" themed card...it just sort of evolved as I was working on it. I had to stamp fast. My little one woke up with a high fever this morning and she is sleeping so I thought I would crank out a card real fast. It is sooooo unlike her to nap, let alone sleep all morning so she must not be feeling too good. Poor sweetie! She wanted me to hold her both times she fell asleep....I picked her up, she put her little hand around my neck and went off to dream land. You didn't come here to listen about my mommy moments though...so here is your eye candy for the day:


The card base is riding hood red. I stamped it with twill background stamp with riding hood red ink. I {luv} this background stamp....it really gives a subtle fabric looking texture to plain card stock. Everything is sponged with stamping sponges in basic brown ink, by the way...lol! Basic brown, you ask??? Well...my chocolate chip was in a bag downstairs...I was upstairs...do the math! I wasn't leaving my stamp land to get an ink pad...when basic brown would do just fine...lol!!!
My three panels along the bottom are from holiday treasures designer series paper. I punched it with the 1 1/4 inch square punch and matted it with the 1 3/8 inch square punch in chocolate chip.
My main image panel is whisper white. I stamped the poinsettia flower from season of joy in the center with riding hood red ink and then again on a scrap of whisper white. I cut the flower out on the scrap. I then laid a piece of scrap writing paper over the flower petals and stamped the flourish, also from season of joy, with old olive ink....cute huh? I then stamped my sentiment with basic brown. That entire panel is mounted on stampin dimensionals. ( no surprise there, huh?)
Wanna get a closer look at the flower? I mounted the second flower on stampin dimensionals at an angle. For the flower center, I pulled out my hoarded stampin' up button collection....lol! I used a small round close to cocoa button from the earth elements and neutrals buttons. I tied a knot of linen thread through it before adhering it with a mini glue dot.


I usually try to make the same card to mail out to family and friends...but I think this year, I will mail out mostly different ones. I need to stop hoarding!!!!! lol!!!
How do you send your cards out? Do you mass produce or do you make all different ones?

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

I first want to thank you!!!

Before I get into this card...be sure to thank a veteran today for your freedom...it comes with a very high price!

Sorry I am so late posting today...I have been getting ready for my club tonight. I hope you girls love what we are doing this month! I really love the technique!!!!


This card is a result of a color challenge. we were to use pacific point, certainly celery and basic gray...WHAT?!?!??!?!? I love all of the in colors this year except pacific point...I like it...I am definitely warming up to it...but I don't love it...YET! It will happen...I'm sure. remember last year...I didn't love river rock...and by the end of the year....everything was river rock. How I miss my river rock being current.... :( Speaking of current, I did use some retired ds here. I used certainly celery designer series prints from the last cattie...But I like it here. this card is pretty much self explanatory....all three colors used here...lots of dimension going on! I do love the pacific point ribbon though. To be honest, I was not going to do this challenge...I just didn't think I could pull it off. I went to one of my shelves...and my poor Season of Joy has been sadly neglected this Holiday season. I used it to death last year, I guess. But I pulled it out, gave it a "missed you" hug....and went to town.


What do you think? Did I do this color challenge justice? I hope so. I am happy with my final results.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Don't hate me....

For what I am about to do! I have a deep love for Stampin' Up stamps...but I broke down. I bought contraband stamps!!!! I did it a while ago, too. I just never let anyone know! lol!! It happened so innocently. I was browsing Target....and you have to look at all of there outside isle end caps....that is where the clearance stuff is! Well, at the end of their craft isle....there they were....hanging there....one set of each only.....Disney Stamp Sets!!!! There was a set with Hannah Montana, Cars movie, general Mickey Mouse and PRINCESS!!!! And they were only $20 for each set!!! Being the mom of a toddler girl....I had to have the princess set. You know I would need it sooner or later, right??? And to get all the princesses for $20???? Even if I never need it for my daughter...she will have friends that will love princesses, right???

Well....she has relatives that love princesses...my niece, to be exact. And yesterday was her birthday. For our family party, her mom orders a small round cake and gets a small figurine for on it. She ordered the cake from me and said she bought a "Little Mermaid" figurine for on it. She wanted a white round cake with green lettering to match The Little Mermaid. So I made just that. Now.... I will take you back a couple of months. Both my niece and nephew love to dress up in costumes to play....so I scored a Disney Little Mermaid costume for her on sale at Toys 'R Us for a song. So I had that...and to think she was having a little mermaid cake...I bought a little mermaid costume as part of her gift....AND I had that set laying on my desk...with a little mermaid stamp in it!!! I felt on top of the world...I am going to totally score with my niece, right!??!??! WRONG!!!! I get there and she pulls out the cake toppers....it was Tinkerbell! Ho hum.....story of my life...lol!!! I began to panic!! The icing isn't going to match tinkerbell...it is mermaid green....I spent an hour watercoloring the little mermaid...not tinkerbell....oh no!! I said to my step sister...that's tinkerbell...not the little mermaid....she shrugged her shoulders and said, oh well! The heaviness was immediately lifted! I felt like I had done something totally wrong and it was no big deal to her...so that made me feel much better! At least, for her cake order for next week's party with my niece's school friends...it will be tinkerbell green. As a mater of fact...my niece wants the whole cake to be green...so green it is! lol!!! I get so fussed up about the dumbest things! Tired of reading me ramble already???? Want some eye candy????


Here is her card. Forgive me that it isn't stampin' up stamps...everything else is stampin up! There were cool things I wanted to show you on this card, that is the only reason I am posting it. I could have not even brought it up...you would have never known I had these contraband stamps in my possession....lol!!! The card base is tempting turquoise. The horizontal panel is taken with teal matted with whisper white punched with the scalloped edge punch. My main image is stamped with jet black staz on onto stampin up watercolor paper. I have tried sooooo many brands of watercolor paper...and I have to tell you....I love Stampin' Up!'s the best! I have even bought the same weight and cold press....but it isn't the same...at all! The store brands DO NOT blend as well. Anyway...I watercolored her with my aquapainter and ink refills. I was very happy with the way she turned out...not to toot my own horn! I matted her on ruby red. Then...the sentiment....I couldn't pick sentiment for the card front that I liked that looked right with Ariel. What to do....what to do????
She turned four...so I will put a four on it! I pulled out my chipboard letters. My 4 came from the On Board Lots of Letters. This picture DOES NOT DO THE SPARKLE FACTOR JUSTICE!!!!! I wanted to give my niece bling!! So I pulled out the cosmo glitter pack and picked the teal glitter. One problem...our chipboard is brown...I wanted a "true" teal color. No biggie! I inked it up with whisper white craft ink first, heat set that to dry. Then, inked it with versamark...poured on the heat and stick powder...heat set just until shiney...poured on the glitter...heat set again to "set" the glitter...and voila!!! A beautiful...true color...drop dead gorgeous sparkly 4!!!! I adhered that to a 1 1/4 inch whisper white circle. The ruby red is 1 3/8 circle matted with a scallop circle punch of taken with teal.
What do you think???? My niece was very excited when she got a "mermaid card!!!!" And when she opened her mermaid suit...she had to put it on right away. She didn't care it was tinkerbell on her cake and mermaid in her gift. It just goes to show that we, the adults, worry about everything being "just right." Kids could care less...they are happy with everything they love...not just one thing in particular! I am soooo guilty of this! I agonize over every event I have. things have to be perfect. When I have my daughter's birthday parties, I turn into a Nazi wedding planner....I get so fussed up! Every ribbon has to be just so....every table has to be in line with the tiles on the floor....the food has to be placed in just the right spots....Are you getting the picture here? And fortunately, my entire family...except my husband....knows I just get like this, that I can't help it.....they sit back and do what I want done, watch me move the food 1 inch from where it was sitting, fuss with curly ribbon, measure balloon strings and never say a word...and at the end of the day everyone is happy. Now if my hubby would just learn that I haven't turned into a Nazi...it will go away as soon as the party is over....lol!! Or, better yet....maybe I could take something from my little niece...."things" don't really matter, just have fun!
Boy, oh boy...I have divulged toooo much information today, huh? Sorry for that! I need to get going and get some laundry done, or move to a nudist colony. Hmmm....to never have to do laundry again......I might be onto something...lol!!! Just kiddin', I better get to sorting!!!

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Scrappin' Saturday 7

ETA: i have added the info about these pages now....
Ok...here is the run down....

I have two million things to accomplish in the time that you could do 1/2 of a million things....so I am posting the pictures and I will update the info later this weekend. I didn't want to "cash in" my overpayment of a scrapbook layout just yet....lol!!! I am not going to let you forget I have over payed you....lol!!!

There are some details that I want to share with you on this layout...I just can't do it right now...gotta dash!

Here it is:

The page bases are bashful blue. The designer series papers are from frosty day with accents of close to cocoa, whisper white and tangerine tango.
The title is cut with my big shot and the go go boots alphabet dies in tangerine tango. The snowflakes aren't felt flurries....they are also cut from the snowflake dies and the big shot. You will have to pull the big shot from my cold dying hands to get me to let go of it!! I love it!! The close to cocoa strip is pierced with the matt pack and piercer and then I put in stitch lines with my white gel pen.

See those brackets around the snowflake??? I made those with the curvy label punch. I punched a label out and moved my punch over slightly and punched it out...a perfect little bracket!!! Our punched are sooo versatile! I mean...brackets out of a label punch?? Who knew???

I really am having fun with scrappin' saturday, are you? leave me comments when I do a page that wow's you...let me know what you enjoy seeing.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Blogger's Challenge - week 72

Well....technically it still is Friday. This week's blogger's challenge was "two of the same." We could go into two directions with this. First, we could do the same layout and use different stamps or second, we could use the same stamps on two different layouts. I chose the latter. I have a warm spot in my heart for Mr. Twigster...which is why it was included in the Christmas Card Stamp Camp I had a few weeks ago. I haven't had the chance to use him as much as I would like to....so I used him for this challenge.

For this one I started with a card base of old olive. The designer series paper is from Holiday Treasures. I LOVE this polka dot paper...I want it in bulk!!! I need it in bulk!!! I accented the edge of it with a piece of riding hood red punched with the scallop edge punch. I then put little dots with my white gel pen in the scallops. I tied a simple knot with the striped baja breeze grosgrain ribbon. My main image panel has Mr. Twigster stamped with basic black ink. I colored him in with ink refills and a blender pen. And it is hard to see in the picture...but he is blinged up with dazling diamonds and a two way glue pen. {luv it!} The J and Y are cut with my big shot and my serif essential dies in riding hood red. It is a real "joy" to use these dies and my big shot! Pun intended! lol!!! Isn't he cute?????
Well, next I used him with a card base of bashful blue. The designer series paper is from Banbury. Doesn't this plaid make a sweet holiday card? I think so. (not to toot my own horn....)
See that scalloped edge? It was made from a scrap strip of close to cocoa. I layed it on the edge of the pennant die and just cut the scallop edge. If you zoom in on the picture, you can see the perforation line where you can take the scallops off of the pennants if you want. I like the look....so I left it. I stamped the sentiment, from cardinal Christmas, onto whisper white with close to cocoa ink. I tied a piece of 1/4 inch grosgrain ribbon in bashful blue around that entire panel and tied a simple knot. I did adhere it down with a mini glue dot under the knot to keep it from shifting. Then the entire panel was adhered to the card base.
Did you see this sweet, sweet snowman??? He was stamped onto whisper white with basic black ink and colored with reinkers and a blender pen. I then punched him out with the 1 3/4 inch circle punch. Then he got his well deserved dose of dazzling diamonds. oooo.....sweet bling!!! Did you catch that he has a scallop circle around him and he was punched with the 1 3/4 inch circle punch??? Remember that the 1 3/4 circle punch matts the scallop circle punch..... this was cut with the pennant die also!! Isn't this wonderful!??!?!? With these dies...we have sooooo many options that we can't get from punches!!! i {luv} it!!!
Well, folks...there it is....my take on the same stamp set, different layouts. You need to try this. It was fun!!!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

What a challenge!

Well....I should be prepping for my stamp clubs next week and my two giftable stamp camps that will be here before I know it...but I stamp for fun...lol!


This week, Kristina's color challenge was just that....A CHALLENGE!!!!! I do like my final outcome, though. I could not get a good picture of the eggplant panel though...argh!!! It is the one with the ribbon tied around it. Wanna see the color challenge?

That is right....the colors are pacific point, taken with teal, elegant eggplant, pumpkin pie, and whisper white. OH MY!!!! lol!!

Well...this is what I came up with. The base is pacific point. My bottom panel is taken with teal matted with 1/8th inch whisper white. I stamped the circle/dot stamp from priceless randomly, but you can hardly see it anywhere because of the other panels. The upper panel is elegant eggplant...honestly....I just couldn't get a good picture of it with out blinding you with the white..lol! It is stamped with the tiny flower in priceless. I tied a simple knot around it with pumpkin pie striped grosgrain ribbon. I mounted that entire panel on stampin' dimensionals...are you surprised? lol! My main image panel is whisper white stamped with both flourishes from priceless in pacific point. The sentiment, from fundamental phrases, is stamped with taken with teal. The pumpkin pie flower is from the die cut blooms...these are soo pretty! I love the textured card stock!!! See the little purple flower in the center??? That is from flower power card element kit....i love this kit! I took my embossing buddy and rubbed it all over the back since it is an adhesive die cut and I didn't want it to be "adhesive." I mounted it in the flower center with a stampin' dimensional.



Here is a closer look at all of that dimension!






Monday, November 3, 2008

Oh, sweet half an hour....

....before my daughter woke up today!! My eyes were the first ones to pop open this morning....I rolled over to look at the clock....it was 6:22......I CAN STAMP!!!! My little one is still sleeping soundly in her room.....I CAN STAMP!!!!! This time change has her little body a little confused.....I CAN STAMP!!!!! WHOOOHOOOO........I CAN STAMP!!!!!! (for fun, that is....) :)


I have been wanting to make a sunset card with Inspired by Nature arrived at my door step via Mr. Brown....and it has been a while, let me tell you. I have had this set since my first order of this catalog...and this is the first I have used it. It is a stamping sin, I know! Please don't beat me!!! I have wanted to use it.....honestly, I have! I am so embarrased...{blush} You know...I don't even have to tell you this?!?!? LOL!


Anyway...wanna see it????


I first punched a 1 3/8th inch circle on a sticky note, being careful to punch where there was "sticky." I layed my sun where I wanted it and started to sponge!!! And I mean sponge!!! A lot of sponging!!!! Get the picture??? lol! Here are the colors I used, in this order: summer sun, more mustard, tangerine tango, riding hood red. I got that looking just how I wanted it and then took off my sun mask. Holy bright sun dinah!!! A stark white sun in a sun set wasn't cutting it!!! So I pulled out another sponge....lol.....and sponged barely banana over the sun to tone it down. OK....I'm happy now.... Next, I stamped the tall grass with basic black...here is where the card lost depth. Hmmm.... So I pulled out another sponge and sponged basic black around the edges, heavier on the bottom.....Oh yeah....there it is! That is better!


Now for the sentiment??? Where would I put that? I don't want to cover any of my sunset. I don't want to cover my sun...lol!! What about ribbon....gotta have ribbon, right??? Well, I decided against all of that stuff! I am a total rebel today! I will use this card as a general greeting card...I can stamp a sentiment inside when I need it. Or I will use it just as a note card to send to friends that live out of state. Or I will hoard it...because that is usually what I do...LOL!!!


Oh yeah...I forgot to mention. I matted the main image with a 1/8th inch mat of basic black and had a card base of tangerine tango.


Now...I have to use that gorgeous cone flower.....Did I mention that I love this set? Now that it has seen ink...I may never put it down! LOL!!!


Ok...you stampers out there...GO STAMP!

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Scrappin' Saturday 6

Week 6??? Wow...I am impressed!!! lol!
I sure hope you aren't tired of Felt Flurries....because I can't stop using them!! As a matter of fact, I got these pictures reprinted in black and white because I wanted to scrap with the flurries....do you think I have a sickness???? lol!

Here is the spread:


The base is baja breeze textured card stock....Now....If you aren't using our textured card stock in scrapping or card making, you don't know what you are missing! I didn't warm up to it when Stampin' Up! first released it....but now....I {luv} it!!! The designer series paper is from Ski Slope...beautiful!!!! And of course, the felt flurries from the holiday mini catalog. I used both the Big Felt Flurries and layered them with the largest flake in the Little Felt Flurries. There are three different sizes in the little Felt Flurries....can't go wrong with these!!


This is the left hand page. I matted the pictures with riding hood red card stock. I also stamped "winter" from everyday flexible phrases in whisper white craft ink across the top of my designer series paper panel.










You have to get a better picture at the felt flurries layer....
I adhered them together with the large clear rhinestone brads from the pretties kit...love this!!! this gives you a closer look at the "winter" also. What a cute little way to add color in a small way! There are so many phrases in that set...I will definitely do this a lot more!!! Why hadn't I thought of this in the past????









Now....The right hand page. I double matted the larger picture with riding hood red and baja blue. This is one of my most favorite pictures of her that I have taken. I don't know why.....I just love this picture....her little facial expression is just priceless. Sorry you can't see it....I am paranoid that way. Call me old fashioned....lol!! I also stamped "winter" down the right hand side of the page like I did on the other side. My journaling block is whisper white. It is butted up against the inner edge of this page. My hand writing isn't the best but I am an "old school scrapper" I guess. Someday, I hope my daughter can appreciate my hand writing in her scrapbooks and in my recipe box. More felt flurries....surprise, surprise! lol!
See my title? It is so sparkly in real life. These are chipboard letters from On Board Lots of Letters. I sure hope that Stampin' Up! gives us a letter die set this size. Are you reading this Stampin' Up!???? lol!!! I took a sponge dauber and inked the letters up with whisper white craft ink and embossed them with irredescent ice embossing powder and my heat tool. I then adhered them with tombo mono multi adhesive.
Well....another day in my daughter's album and out of my "box." I do have a terrible fear that I will meet my demise and be so far behind in her scrapbooks. To me, this is one of the best material gifts I can ever give her....I want her to realize her simple day to day things as well as holidays and birthdays. Now...if I would just remember to get the camera out when she is sassing me or screaming about something....LOL!!!